Andel took the boots and tried to put them on for her, but she stiffened uncooperatively. “Why don’t you light a fire, Huldar,” she prompted, “and make us some sweet tea? Something to eat, perhaps?”
Huldar opened a supply kit and took out some chunky brown biscuits. “Laced with kanth,” he said, “for emergencies.”
Andel gave up on the boots and pulled the blanket lower to cover Lind’s feet, but Lind pushed it back until her toes were showing.
She took a biscuit and offered it to Lind, but she seemed uninterested.
While Huldar conjured a fire, Andel moved closer and patted the ground for Lind to join her.
Should we ask Ubaid and Alis to come? she suggested.
They may not be able to find us. His face brightened. But Casco knows this place. He can bring them.
Lind watched the fire grow. Slowly, she held her hand to the flame, closer and closer as if reluctant to believe. Andel gently pulled her arm away, worried she would burn herself.
“It’s real?” she asked hesitantly. “Is this real?”
“Yes, it is.” Andel forced a smile through tears, but it faded as Lind began counting her toes again, touching each one and numbering them one to ten.
“What are you doing?” she asked softly.
“I’m not dead?”
Andel took Lind’s hand. “No, Lind. We are alive. We are really here. Huldar and I found you in Qalān. Huldar found us and brought us home – with this.” She opened her hand and showed Lind the beacon stone.
Lind stared as if in shock, then began to cry. “The stone, the stone!” she sobbed. “He made me do it! I didn’t mean it, Huldar, I didn’t mean it! Don’t hate me, please!”
“Shh, shh,” said Andel. “You’re safe now.”
“No, no!” Lind cried. “He made me do it. He’ll kill me!”
“The Overlord?” Andel asked her.
Huldar hunkered down beside them. “He hit you, didn’t he?”
With a low cry, Lind buried her face in his chest. From her mind came images of Duvät Gok’s vile behavior, scenes of the rape and petty brutality Lind had endured over many months. The information was streamed raw and unfiltered. As Andel and Huldar closed their arms around her again, their eyes met. Neither knew what to say, or how to respond.
“I’m so ashamed,” Lind wailed. “So hopeless!”
“He won’t hurt you again,” Huldar said firmly. There was a savage note in his voice that made Andel look twice.
He’ll kill me, Lind whispered. I know secrets.
Andel squeezed her hand reassuringly. “We know too now,” she said. “We’ll keep you safe.” She looked up with relief as Casco brought the healers through the portal. He stopped in his tracks when he saw who was under the blanket.
Alis and Ubaid ran forward. With a little prompting, Lind relinquished her hold on Andel and Huldar turned to them.
Casco stood with Huldar by the fire. “How?” he asked quietly. “When I woke up, you two were gone, and now? I can barely look. When I … I can hardly believe it. But she’s so fragile. I can’t imagine … He looked at his friend with awe. “You’ve done what no one else can.”
Huldar glanced at Andel and reached out his hand. “Long story,” he said.
Despite his exhaustion, she saw a secret smile lurking just beneath his veil, and a certain sense of triumph. Her gaze was drawn to his cheek, where his Shamkar still glowed with residual energy.
“Your Mark’s grown!” she said.
He put his hand to his face and explored his cheek, tracing lines of warmth.
“So it has,” said Casco, brows raised in wonder. “Long story? Lucky you’re good at those.”
Andel saw fatigue descend on Huldar like a mantle. The song had come in a flash of brilliance, but it had taken all his strength to sing it. He’d not even known for sure it would work, although he’d believed with all his heart … then to sing it again after they’d been torn apart! It was a wonder he could even stand. His stubborn spirit had saved their lives. The Rukh were right: there could be no one more worthy.
“You asked me to tell no one, not even the healers, before we got here,” Casco was saying. “Why the secrecy?”
Huldar’s gaze narrowed. “It’s best that the Gok doesn’t know what’s coming,” he said. “But before I tackle the Overlord, if I don’t eat soon I think I’m going to fall over.”
THE SHAWL OF JUSTICE
Buoyed by a hot meal and plenty of adrenalin, Huldar strode toward the Overlord’s tent. His veil was steely calm, but every stride betrayed the murder in his heart.
“Huldar!” Nachiel called, “Where have you been?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” he muttered.
When he came to the Overlord’s tent, he ripped the door open.
Duvät Gok!
“What is the meaning of this?” the Overlord cried, but with one look at Huldar, he backed away.
Huldar bore down on him. “I know what you did.”
“What I did?” the Overlord spluttered. His eyes went to his desk. “What have I done?”
“Lind has been found. You raped her.”
“Raped her?” Comprehension bloomed across the Overlord’s face. “No, no, you misunderstand.” He laughed nervously. “She likes it like that. She finds my strength –”
The crunch and judder as his fist struck the Overlord’s face was deeply satisfying, and the Gok’s shocked expression as he went down was an image Huldar knew he would remember for the rest of his days.
“Imperial representative?” He sneered, and spat on the ground. Duvät Gok squirmed backward. Huldar followed. “If this was what the God-Emperor represented then El would surely reject him. I will see to it that you are stripped of office,” he said quietly, “and that you never work with the Explorers’ Guild again!”
He reached down and hauled Duvät Gok to his feet, then gripped his suety arm and propelled him toward the marquee.
“What are you doing?” the Overlord stammered. “How dare you! Remove your hand from my person!”
Huldar unleashed a stun-song and smiled grimly as Duvät sagged in his grasp, but he knew the Gok would be wary if he tried the same thing again. As a gambler who mixed with rough company, no doubt Duvät had a few defensive tricks up his filthy sleeve.
_____
Casco gave Huldar the time they’d agreed, then began shepherding the small group back to base-camp. Through every portal, Lind closed her eyes and clung to Andel’s hand, but the healers’ attentions seemed to make the process bearable. However, as they neared the marquee, she released Andel’s hand and hugged herself tightly. The fear in her eyes grew desperate.
“I don’t want to see him,” she said. “Please don’t make me!”
“No one will force you,” said Ubaid, “But the others deserve to know what he did.”
“I don’t want them to know.”
“It’s best that you do this now,” Alis counseled. “The pain will be great no matter what Ubaid and I do, but your overall healing may be hindered if you don’t.”
Casco stood close beside her. “We are your family,” he said. “We’ll be there. Sari, and Lady Andel too.”
“You’ll be stronger for bringing it all out,” Alis said. “If you do it now, while you are brave, then we can all watch over you. Soon we’ll return to Giahn and after that, you’ll never have to see him again.”
“I believe Shamkarun Huldar will make sure of it,” said Ubaid.
Andel took Lind’s hands and closed her mind to the terror that poured through. “He never gave up.” She found Lind’s gaze and held it. “He believed you were alive. He found a way where there has never been a way before.”
“And you risked your life for me, again.” Lind took a breath, and then another one. Andel could feel her reservations diminishing. Eventually she gave a hesitant nod. “I’ll do it for you, Lady Andel, and for him, if you think it’s right.”
“I do think it’s right,” said Andel, �
��although very hard. Come. Let’s go home. Everyone’s waiting. They’ll be so thrilled, so very relieved to see you.”
As the small group entered the marquee, Sari’s hand went to her mouth. “Lind!” she sobbed. “Oh Lind!”
Nachiel ran forward with her. “I can’t believe it!” he cried. “When he said he had a surprise for us I thought it might be another case of Besh!”
Sari wrapped Lind in a delicate but determined hug, as if any sudden movement might shatter her. Ronnin soon joined them, then Cobar and Gento muscled in to engulf them all in a massive embrace. While the rest of the crew bobbed, impatient for their turn to welcome Lind back from the Breath, Duvät Gok stood stiff and diffident at the back of the room, watching with his one good eye. The other was swelling fast.
Andel glanced from it to Casco. Huldar?
I believe so, Casco replied.
“Good for him,” murmured Ubaid.
Alis looked at the Overlord with open disdain. “He needn’t expect us to tend it.”
Huldar held Lind’s shoulders and looked at her with concern. “Are you strong enough to do this?”
Lind stood straighter. “I … think so. The Uri’madu – I am one of them.”
Huldar blinked back tears and bowed. “It is an honor to have you back where you belong.”
When Huldar had taken his place before the team, Tam handed him the storyteller’s shawl. As the Uri’madu gathered close in anticipation, Lind and Andel positioned themselves at the front where Lind could see them clearly. She seemed pale but determined as Sari gave her a last brief hug.
If I don’t do this now, Lind said to Andel, I might never. She turned and stared deliberately at Duvät Gok. He held his gaze straight ahead and would not meet her eye.
Look at him, she said. Why did I ever think he had power over me?
Andel noticed a hesitation in Lind’s thoughts and wondered what it was she could not yet say, but after the extreme trauma she had experienced, it would be astonishing if she could face all that had happened with no qualms.
Huldar spread his hands. “Many of you are wondering how Lind has been found and returned to us.” He fingered the aged fiber of the ceremonial shawl and waited for the rumble of comment to subside. “And why it is that the Overlord stands before you in disgrace. All must know what the Overlord has done; then, as team leader and ranking archangel, it is my right to pass judgment and be witnessed by all.”
He placed the white shawl around his shoulders and bowed with his hands crossed over his forehead. “Bey Maat’aht ej El a’sien,” he said solemnly. “Breath blows through me.”
“Breath blow true,” the Uri’madu intoned.
“I call Lind to tell you what she has experienced at Duvät Gok’s hands,” Huldar said. “I affirm that she has shared this information with me previously by way of direct imagery which cannot be manipulated or falsified. She may choose to share these experiences with any among you or not, in her own time and when she sees fit. Are we agreed?”
They bowed and recited, “Breath blow true.”
Huldar bowed in turn and continued. “In accordance with protocol, if Duvät Gok has any evidence or anything to say which qualifies or excuses his actions, we will hear him after Lind has spoken. Then, in turn, we will listen to any among you who wish to present evidence or pertinent argument. Are we agreed?”
Again, they intoned the response.
Andel leaned closer to Sari and whispered, “The storyteller’s shawl is the Shawl of Justice now.”
“Justice, yes,” Sari murmured. “It’s on his shoulders … I wonder if this will be told as a story one day.”
Huldar bowed to them again, and then to Lind. “Let us begin.”
As Lind took the shawl, Sari gripped Andel’s hand. Outwardly they smiled and nodded encouragement, but her skeletal appearance and psychic fragility moved them to the core.
“Where has she found the courage?” Andel asked softly. And after such an ordeal, The terror of Qalān is beyond imagination! “I know I couldn’t.”
Sari shook her head slightly, realizing Lind might find their whispering unnerving. Courage? It is because she knows she must. She has faced danger before, many times.
Sexual abuse, psychological torture – and he’s the Imperial Representative, the ultimate authority of our group. Such fortitude is hard to imagine … except maybe among those of House Leth.
Lind fixed her gaze on Sari’s and began. Haltingly, she admitted that her troubles began after she had “done something stupid” and been caught out. Duvät cringed as she described him pushing her to the ground and threatening her with slavery, but as the damning tales continued, Andel thought the Overlord seemed less concerned by the recital than he should. It was as if he was merely resigned to it, as if a game had been lost – not real life.
When Lind relinquished the shawl, Huldar offered it to him. The Overlord fondled it as if deep in thought, but did not put it on. Instead, he squared his shoulders and sketched a bow toward Lind. With his gaze focused on the opposite panels of the marquee roof he began in a clear and deliberate voice, “Lind, I am, of course, deeply sorry for any pain I have caused. For this, I can only blame the rigors of this most important job we do, and the stress – the huge responsibility I have to the Imperium.” He paused, then added, “The isolation must have affected me more than I knew.”
Huldar narrowed his gaze, sharing the skepticism felt by his team. When Duvät tried to return the shawl, he refused to accept it.
“Put it on, Duvät Gok,” he said. “Tell us how you will make amends. An apology is mere words.”
“I am sure you will pass atonement soon enough!” Duvät snapped. He examined the weave of the fabric in his hands at length, before resuming his veil of remorse. The Uri’madu shuffled restlessly. Red anger tinged their collective haze.
Andel watched Huldar, wondering what he would do, then just as he seemed about to lose patience, Duvät Gok tossed the shawl around his neck. He turned to Lind and cleared his throat.
“I will see that you are compensated financially. The coin will come from my own pocket.” Then, as if sensing that this may not be quite adequate, he added, “And you will not be required to work for the remainder of our time on this planet.”
Huldar waited.
With a shrug, Duvät took the shawl from his neck and stuffed it back into Huldar’s hands.
Casco shook his head. What’s he trying to prove?
We all know he’s flawed, Andel replied, but this? He violated Lind’s trust, our trust!
Huldar donned the shawl again and faced the gathering.
“Duvät Gok, hear the atonement I require. You will immediately resign as Overlord.”
“Now?” At last, Duvät seemed genuinely engaged.
“Yes,” Huldar said. “You are not fit for the position.” After a slight pause he continued, “Your tent will be removed from the main encampment by more than fifty paces. You will surrender to this company all of the remaining coal in your possession. You may not eat with us, or come within ten paces of Lind unless she gives permission.”
“Learn to cook, Gok,” Tam sniggered.
“But I will be alone!” Duvät cried. “What if we are attacked? This is outrageous! How will I warm my tent?”
“There is more,” Huldar said. “As soon as we arrive back in Giahn, you will accompany me to Guild headquarters. I will see to it that they are informed of your conduct, and removed officially from employment. At that time, I will collect one fifth of your overall contractual pay to be given to Lind as the financial compensation you promised.”
“One fifth? How am I to live?”
Huldar bowed to signal the end of proceedings and closed his eyes as if listening intently to his soul. “I feel the Breath in my words,” he announced.
“Breath blow true!” the company chanted. When Huldar removed the shawl from his shoulders the noise-level peaked as everyone started to talk at once.
“Casco, Cobar,” Hu
ldar called. “See to the removal of his tent.”
Duvät startled, then hurried behind the Rukh. The company parted to let him through, but no one so much as acknowledged his presence.
“Look at him,” Sari said, “scurrying behind them like the filthy kalla he is.” She turned as Lind started for the door also. “Lind, you won’t stay? Just for a wee while?”
“I … I can’t,” Lind said. “I want to see my own tent. It’s been so long … I’m sorry.”
Ubaid shepherded her to the door. “She has done enough,” he said. “We’ll see her safe, Sari, Lady Andel. Don’t worry.”
_______
A few days after the judgment session, Andel and Sari sat with Lind while she picked at her morning meal in the glow of the fire. When Huldar entered the marquee, Andel gave him a small smile.
“Ladies of the Uri’madu, good morning!” He crouched beside Lind. “I have something for you.” He handed her a woven leather thong with the orange stone suspended on it.
Lind took it warily. “Is that it? The beacon stone?”
Huldar’s smile was encouraging. “I’ve changed the charm. It will alert me if Duvät Gok comes too close.”
Lind closed her hands around it and listened. Although she had already put on a little weight, the gaze she turned to him was deeply haunted.
“Thank you.” Tears glistened as she put the pendant around her neck and tucked it beneath her shirt. Sari reached out and lifted her hair free of the fastening.
“I’ll be all right,” Lind said. She wiped her face with the backs of her hands. “I’m feeling better already.” She patted her chest. “Thank you for this.”
“Have you seen him?” Huldar asked. “The charm will only react to his physical presence.” He tapped his head. “Has he bothered you?”
“No. Only in the distance, standing by his tent. He looked lonely.”
“Good!” said Sari. “Evil monster. So he should.”
“But I don’t want him excluded entirely,” Lind said. “I don’t mind if he comes to the marquee sometimes, so long as he keeps his distance.”
“Are you sure?” asked Andel.
“I want him to see that I am loved and he isn’t.”
Planet Walkers Page 23
